Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/214

 We need not follow the itinerary as they measured back the way to Calcutta. One other grief awaited them: for while still travelling they received from Madras the tidings of the death of Sir Thomas Munro—the most trusted of advisers, most faithful of friends. He had intended to return home at the beginning of Lord Amherst's administration; but when the Burmese war was seen to be inevitable, he remained to render all the help his long experience fitted him to give. He fell a victim to the fatal cholera while he was waiting to be relieved of his functions. The yearning for home was never satisfied: it was a pathetic close to a noble life.

One incident by the way deserves mention as an illustration of the temper of a native grandee of the old school. The Nawáb of Murshidábád set out to meet them in state, but on his way received a letter informing him that they would not arrive for a fortnight.

'He flew into such a violent rage that it resembled frenzy. He tore off a fine turban with jewels, and threw it into the river. Two rings off his fingers shared the same fate; some valuable filigree work—in short every valuable he could lay his hands on—was thrown overboard. He stamped and raved like a madman, and no one could pacify him. He threatened to cut off his beard and eyebrows, and make a Fakir of himself. Mr. Melville says in his rage he destroyed property to the value of 50,000 rupees—his own to be sure.' We reach now the record of the last days in India. There is a touching entry of the visit of the sorrowing